On 20 March 2022, community transmission of COVID-19 was identified in Samoa,and subsequent set up of community testing sites found that COVID-19 was found throughout the communities of Upolu and Savaii islands. At the finalisation of this report in May 2022, Samoa has reported 11,313 community cases and 24 COVID-19 related deaths. This report provides an analysis of Samoa’s national response to COVID-19 with a key focus on gender and people with a disability.
Key findings include:
- Persons with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to the economic impacts of COVID-19.
- Reduced access to public spaces and services will affect access to health services and social support. Restrictions can also be manipulated by controlling and violent partners to further isolate women experiencing domestic violence.
- Overloaded and under-resourced health systems will increase the risk of exposure to COVID-19 for the health workforce, who are predominantly women.
